Heartless thieves have broken into some Muswell Hill allotments and stolen thousands of pounds worth of machinery and some tombola prizes just days before its annual prize giving show.

Raiders on Saturday night are believed to have cut a hole in the metal fence which encloses the golf course from the surrounding Bluebell Wood, before smashing into dozens of sheds and swiping electrical generators, tillers and bottles of wine intended for a raffle sale.

It is the third time yobs have broken into the site this year, signalling what allotment holders have said is an unprecedented crime wave.

Sean Lambert, 62, arrived to open the allotment’s shop on Sunday morning to find it ransacked.

“All the doors were smashed open and so were the shop and community hut, and all our machines were taken”, he said.

“You are talking about thousands of pounds worth of stuff. They even pinched the tombola prizes.

“I was really upset, and mad at the time.”

The break in occurred as allotment holders were putting the finishing touches to their annual autumn show, where gardeners compete for the coveted titles of largest marrow grower and best kept allotment.

Despite fears the raid could force the prize giving’s cancellation organisers have insisted the ‘show will go on’. They have issued an ‘SOS’ for new tombola prizes and a group of dedicated gardeners have spent the week cleaning up the area.

Mr Lambert, who has tended to his allotment for 20 years, said the break in was the worst he has ever known at the site.

“They have broken into sheds before and have pinched a few things but this is the biggest one.

“But the community is rallying together and we are determined to put on the best show yet.”

Allotment holders have written to Haringey Council urging the authority to replace the fencing with a thicker, spiked barrier, and are considering installing a CCTV camera at the entrance.

Tulio Moglia, 50, site manager, said: “They ransacked the shop. I don’t think we are going to get any more equipment because we cannot insure it.

“The only good thing is that nobody got hurt. You can imagine if somebody was there what would have happened.

“We are in a battle with the council to get better fencing around Bluebell wood. That is where we think most of the problems come from.”

Haringey Council, which owns the allotments, and Haringey police were unavailable to comment.